The Dominican influencer Destino Tolk announced this Tuesday the launch of his own music distribution company, a project based in Miami aimed at providing a direct and contract-free avenue to Cuban artists on the island. The announcement came with tension, featuring a blunt message directed at producer Roberto Ferrante: "I'm going to take you down."
In a video posted on their social media, Destino explained that they have signed a partnership with the renowned distributor ONErpm, with which they will manage their new record label from the United States. “Destino Tolk Music has just opened its own record label. Cuban artists from the island no longer have to sign with Ferrante or anything,” they said in their message.
The content creator was even more explicit in his intention to compete with Ferrante, whom he accused of exercising abusive control over Cuban music: “You wanted to fight, now I'm going to compete with you. I'm going to open a record label from Miami so that the artists who sign with you out of necessity can send their music to me, and I will distribute it.”
According to the details provided, his business model will be simple: musicians will keep 80% of the profits and he will take only 20% as a distribution fee. Additionally, he assured that there will be no requirement to sign contracts. “They don't have to sell their soul to the devil,” he added, in a clear reference to the agreements that, according to him, Planet Records imposes.
The announcement comes just hours after a major controversy between the two, when Destino reported that it received a strike on its YouTube channel that removed an interview with the reggaeton artist El Chulo. The claim was filed by Planet Distribution for a Third Party, on behalf of Charly & Johayron, for alleged copyright infringement.
Destino accused Ferrante of trying to censor its content with a complaint that it deemed unfounded: “That does not belong to you, it belongs to Destino Tolk,” he said angrily, warning that he would take legal action if the claim was not withdrawn. “Be a man and remove the strike willingly,” he demanded in a threatening tone.
The announcement of the new record label was quickly supported by artists like El Chulo and Dany Ome, who praised both ONErpm and Destino for opening an alternative door for musicians in Cuba. Dozens of fans and young talents also celebrated the initiative on social media, sending messages of support and proposals to be distributed.
So far, Roberto Ferrante has not publicly responded to either the controversy regarding the strike on YouTube or the release of Destino Tolk Music. However, everything indicates that the battle for control over the Cuban music market has just entered a new phase, promising to change the rules of the game for artists on the island.
Frequently Asked Questions about Destino Tolk and the Cuban Music Industry
What is Destino Tolk Music and what is its main objective?
Destino Tolk Music is a new music distributor launched by Dominican influencer Destino Tolk. Its main goal is to provide a direct and contract-free pathway for Cuban artists on the island, allowing them to retain 80% of their music earnings, in contrast to the control that, according to Destino, Roberto Ferrante exerts through Planet Records.
Why did Destino Tolk decide to launch its own record label?
Destino Tolk decided to launch its own record label to provide Cuban artists with an alternative free from abusive contracts. It accused Roberto Ferrante of exerting abusive control over Cuban music and censoring content, as happened with the removal of an interview on YouTube. Destino aims to create a fairer market through its partnership with ONErpm.
What is the conflict between Destino Tolk and Roberto Ferrante?
The conflict between Destino Tolk and Roberto Ferrante arose from a strike received by Destino on his YouTube channel, which resulted in the removal of an interview with El Chulo. Destino accuses Ferrante of trying to censor his content and of filing a baseless complaint. Furthermore, Destino has declared war on Ferrante by launching a record label that promises to compete directly with him.
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